Salicylates, substances like aspirin, may help obese people produce insulin, which could help them fight diabetes, researchers said.

People who are overweight can develop insulin resistance, where the body stops responding to the substance, which moderates blood sugar. Resistance is considered a step toward type 2 diabetes.

In a paper in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dr. Jose-Manuel Fernandez-Real said salicylates lowered blood sugar in diabetic patients.

The results were based on a small study of 38 people, who were each given varying doses or a placebo. People did not get more sensitive to insulin, but their bodies produced more with higher doses.

Researchers also found the result when they tested cells in the lab, not just people.

"Aspirin therapy has been recognized to improve glucose tolerance and to reduce insulin requirements in diabetic subjects," said Fernandez-Real.